democracy and participation Flashcards
Who was Plato?
Plato was a Greek philosopher
What did Plato believe and say about democracy? what was his ideas?
Plato believed that ‘the people’ would not respect decisions made by their peers - what we now think of the process of democracy.
For Plato, it was better that people were ruled by their superiors.
Authority granted to a leader would be more respected than popular decision making as lack of respect would lead to disorder and people left to make their own decisions would fall prey to rabble rousers and demagogues
Plato said democracy treated everyone equally in terms of knowledge and understanding whereas in reality they are not equal.
What did Plato say about democracy?
Plato said democracy treated everyone equally in terms of knowledge and understanding whereas in reality they are not equal.
What did Winston Churchill say about democracy?
Winston Churchill said in 1947, in the house of commons ‘that democracy is the worst form of government except for all the other forms’
Churchill understood that the way in which democracy roots power in the people made it the best form of government available.
- This is because the government holds the government accountable for what it does on their behalf and choose politicians whom they want to represent them.
What is an autocratic government?
an autocratic government is a government where power is permanently vested in one individual or group giving them power over the people.
Where can the beginning of the UK’s progression to full democracy be traced back to?
The beginning of the UK’s progression towards the full democracy we have today can be traced back to the Magna Carta in 1215, and possibly even back to the Anglo Saxon witan giving the UK the claim to have the longest history of democratic development in the world.
When did Abraham Lincoln establish the principle of a democratic government in the US
In the USA, at the height of the US civil war in 1863. President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) in his Gettysburg address, establishing the principle of a democratic government as ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’
What was Lincolns definition of democracy in his Gettysburg address in 1863?
‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’
What does it mean by extending the franchise?
allowing more people to vote or widening the electorate.
How do we spread democratic practice?
- by extending the franchise (the vote)
- by improving the extent and accountability of representative democracy
- by introducing elements of direct democracy through increasing the use of referendums and digital democracy
What is direct democracy?
Direct democracy is a form of democracy where the people themselves make key decisions. In modern societies, this usually takes the form of holding a referendum
What is Representative democracy?
Representative democracy is a form of government where the people elect or somehow choose representatives who make political decisions on their behalf. It also implies that representatives are accountable for what they do.
Where was the concept of direct democracy first conceived?
Direct democracy was how the concept of democracy was first conceived in Ancient Greece - mainly in Athens in 5th century (sometimes called Athenian democracy)
- assembled free citizens would make important decisions e.g. whether they should go to war or not
- laws were later made in this way and officials who ran the state were elected in this fashion
- When this would not happen a form of representative democracy took over the running of day to day affairs of state.
explain the historical development of democracy from the past to today.
After Athenian democracy declined in the 4th century BC, direct democracy largely disappeared until the 19th century.
The swiss have used direct democracy throughout their history and still use it extensively today, but the idea did not spread
Some communities in the early life of the USA conducted local government by direct democracy (largely through ‘town meetings’) but these were rare exceptions
Today direct democracy has returned in the form of referendum, now relatively common in Europe and some states of the USA. But direct democracy has not replaced representative democracy, but some decisions have been seen so vital and/or unsuitable for representatives to make a decision on, that they are left to the people e.g. Britain leaving or remaining in the EU.
Does the democratic process work? Did Plato have a point?
The democratic process continues to be problematic as many concerned commentators point out that representative democracy fails many sections of society, that it serves the interests of the majority and leaves minorities behind. Also many democratic countries may suffer issues of corruption and bias in their government.
- This had led to calls for the return of popular democracy -> referendums
As well as this, populist leaders are emerging all over the democratic world, telling us that democracy is no longer working
History of democracy in the UK:
In the past who could vote in general elections?
In the past, only the elite could vote in general elections but now with the developments of democracy and extending the franchise, more people can vote.
Who can vote in general elections in the UK?
Most people can vote in general elections:
if they are a British national over 18+
Those who cannot vote:
- prisoners
- the ‘mentally impaired’
- those who do not sign up on the electoral register (can receive fine if don’t)
What concerns are there about the political system?
There is concern on how to convert/make the political system from being the preserve of the elite to a popular exercise in which the masses can take part in.
What is democracy?
Democracy is where power is exercised by the masses of people. e.g. voting in a general election for a political party to become government
Literally means ‘rule by the people’
State advantages of direct democracy
- It is the purest form of democracy. The people’s voices is clearly heard.
- It can avoid delay and deadlock within the political system
- The fact that people are making the decision gives it great legitimacy.
state disadvantages of direct democracy
- It can lead to a ‘tyranny of the majority’ whereby the winning majority simply ignores the interests of the minorities. Elected representatives can mediate between the interests of the majority and minorities
- The people may be too easily swayed by short term, emotional appeals by charismatic individuals. Plato criticized direct democracy on these grounds
- Some issues may be too complex for the ordinary voter to understand
Explain what direct democracy is
direct democracy is a form of democracy in which decisions are directly made by the public without their opinion being channelled through representatives.
- It is consultative and participatory
- In a direct democracy there is no distinction between citizen and government. Instead there is a continuous engagement by the public in the democratic process
- It would be impossible in a modern nation state like the UK to be governed according to the principles of direct democracy, but elements of direct democracy have been introduced into the UK’s system of representative democracy in order to engage the public with issues that directly concern them.
What is accountability?
Accountability means that those who have been elected in a representative democracy must be responsible for their policies, actions, decisions and general conduct. Without such accountability, representation becomes largely meaningless.
e.g. cabinet ministers held accountable by the prime minister by the reshuffle of cabinet.
What is Redress of grievances?
Redress of grievances is a practice adopted by many elected representatives of taking up the case of an individual constituent who feels they have suffered an injustice, usually at the hands of the government or an agency of the state
e.g. racial profiling
What is a Manifesto?
A manifesto is a written document/statement outlining a party’s agreed policies, promises and pledges produced during an election campaign to inform the public about the political platform upon which its candidates are standing. Candidates for the party are expected to support the manifesto and usually do so in the UK, through there may be some exceptions.
- A manifesto is a written document that contains a list of promises/policies that is put together by a political party pre-election.
Explain what representative democracy is
Representative democracy is a form of government where the people elect or somehow choose representatives who make political decisions on their behalf. It also implies that representatives are accountable for what they do.
- The most common democratic model in the world today.
- The basis of this type of democracy is that the people do not make political decisions but instead choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf,
- The most common way of choosing their representatives is to elect them, in Ancient Greece sometimes they were chosen by lottery.
If representatives are not elected it calls democracy into question
- Elections are what we often think of representation but elections do not characterize representative democracy alone.
- Those elected must be held accountable
Why is accountability important in democracy and politics?
Accountability is very important, as it is essential that representatives act responsibly and in the interests of the people they represent and make decisions for.
- It is during election time that accountability is most striking as both individual representatives like MPs in the UK and the government as a whole are held accountable when people go to the polls.
- During an election opposition parties will highlight the shortcomings of the government and will offer their own alternatives
- At the same time the government will seek to explain and justify what it has done in an effort to be re-elected
How are individual representatives and government held accountable?
They are held accountable during election time at the polls.
Individual representatives will be held to account for their performance e.g. how well they have represented their own constituents.
Government are held to account as a whole when the people go to the polls
- In between elections accountability can be less certain. The legislature can hold the government to account regularly, while individual representatives are usually safe until the next election
What type of democracy is the UK?
The uk is a representative democracy
How is the UK a representative democracy?
The UK is a representative democracy as we elect politicians to make decisions on our behalf.
There are so many complicated decisions that need to be made in a modern democracy that it would be impossible for the public to understand the issues and vote on them all
It is the job of professional politicians to acquire the political understanding so they can make informed decisions on behalf of the nation as a whole
How do voters retain sovereignty?
Voters retain sovereignty because they decide whether or not to renew the mandate of their representatives in elections
What is representative democracy based on?
Representative democracy is based on the idea that elected politicians should represent the interests of all their constituents
- MP’s therefore spend a lot of time in their constituencies listening to the concerns of their constituents in public meetings or surgeries
Should elected politicians act on the interests of their constituents or their best judgement?
Elected politicians should not act on just the wishes of their constituents, if they did they would be just a delegate. Instead they have to make decisions based on their constituents and the party manifesto, and their wider understanding of an issue.
In other words, politicians should act on their best judgments rather than just follow voter wishes.
How many MPs are in the Westminster parliament
The Westminster Parliament contains 650 MPs whom are accountable to their constituents in regular general elections
Do Scotland, wales and northern Ireland have their own devolved parliaments?
Scotland, wales and Northern Ireland have their own devolved governments, while elected mayors and local councils provide another layer of representation for the public
State advantages of representative democracy
- The government is made up of professionals who are required to be well informed about issues
- They are more likely to make informed decisions than the general public, who may be swayed by emotion and not fully understand the complexities of the issue. Parliamentary bills are drawn up carefully by ministers and civil servants, debated in the house of commons and the house of lords, analysed in committees and amendments added before they are enacted
- Elected politicians balance conflicting interests when reaching decisions. This is important in protecting the rights of all citizens, especially minorities and ensuring that the implications of a decision on all members of a community have been examined and considered
- In a direct democracy, the public vote according to their self interest without always considering the effect on others. This is more likely to form a majoritarian form of democracy in which the rights and interests of a minority may be neglected
- Representative democracies also have accountability where regular
elections mean voters can decide whether or not to renew the mandate of their representatives, if the public don’t like the policies of a government they can elect a different one
State the disadvantages of representative democracy
- MP’s may be disengaged from the public so do not adequately represent their interests. Pressure groups, lobbyists, and the London based media may create a ‘Westminster Bubble’, which disconnects voters and their representatives
- MP’s can have outside interests like second jobs (which is allowed as long as they are declared) which can lead to a conflict of interests and compromise their ability to represent their constituents interests
- The Westminster parliament is especially unrepresentative since it is elected through first past the post. As a result the conservatives and labour dominate the House of commons and minority parties like the Green party struggle to gain representation despite polling well at times
- The social make up of parliament is still primarily, white, male and upper middle class. critics say that the interests of the poor are poorly represented. The house of lords is unelected and therefore not accountable to the public, further undermining how representative parliament is.
What is first past the post (FPTP) system?
An electoral system where the person with the most number of votes is elected. Victory is achieved by having one more vote than other contenders - it is also called a plurality system
What is legitimacy?
Legitimacy is the rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely held agreements such as a government’s right to rule following an election or a monarch’s succession based on the agreed rules
What is a democratic deficit?
A flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with sufficient democratic input or subject to accountability
What is the participation crisis?
A lack of engagement by a significant number of citizens to relate to the political process either by choosing not to vote or to join or to become members of political parties or to offer themselves for public office
What is the franchise/suffrage?
Franchise and suffrage both refer to the ability/right to vote in public elections. Suffragettes were women campaigning for the right to vote on the same terms as men.
What are think tanks?
A body of experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain topic(s) - to investigate and offer solutions to often complicated and seemingly intractable economic, social and political issues
What are Lobbyists?
A lobbyist is paid by clients to try to influence the government and/or MPs and members of the house of lords to act in their client’s interests, particularly when legislation is under consideration
What is social representation?
Social representation implies that the characteristics of members of representatives bodies, whether they are national parliaments, regional assemblies or local councils, should be broadly in line with the characteristics of the population as a whole.
In other words, they should be close to being a ‘microcosm’ of society as a whole
e.g. close to half should be women, a proportion should be ethnic or religious minorities, there should be a good range of ages, class etc,
However, this is difficult to achieve and the UK parliament certainly falls short of this ideal.
How are representatives usually elected? and must they represent the national interest?
Representatives are usually elected locally or regionally, but if they sit in a national parliament they are expected to represent the interests of the nation as a whole
How can representing the national interest clash with MPs representing their constituency?
if representatives are sitting in a national parliament they are expected to represent the interests of the nation as a whole. Sometimes this can clash with the local constituency they represent so they have to resolve the issue their own way.
For example, Conservative MP’s representing their constituencies near Heathrow airport are under pressure to oppose a third runway on the grounds of noise, disruption and pollution, despite their party saying it is in the national interest to build the runway.
Most issues in the national interest, like foreign policy usually do not have an effect on local issues
Name an example where representing the national interest may clash for MPs when representing their local constituency
For example, Conservative MP’s representing their constituencies near Heathrow airport are under pressure to oppose a third runway on the grounds of noise, disruption and pollution, despite their party saying it is in the national interest to build the runway.
Most issues in the national interest, like foreign policy usually do not have an effect on local issues
What is constituency representation?
The locality that elects a representative in UK national politics is known as constituency. In other countries, other names are given.
In the US - congressmen and women represent congressional districts
Wherever this kind of representation exists it is concerned with local interests
What does constituency representation imply/mean?
- It can mean representing the interests of the constituency as a whole. E.g. should the building of a new railway be opposed?
Can central government funds be accessed to redevelop a town centre? Will high levels of immigration into an area upset the social balance? - It can also mean representing the interests of individual constituents. This is often described as the redress of grievances. For example, has a constituent been unfairly treated by a public body like the NHS or HMRC? Is an asylum seeker no receiving a fair and speedy hearing? Has a person been a victim of a miscarriage of justice?
- It can simply mean that the representative listens to the views of his or her constituents when deciding about a national issue. This can lead to another dilemma. What happens if the elected representative does not personally agree with the majority of constituents? This becomes a matter of conscience that has to be resolved by the individual concerned. This often occurred in the Eu referendum campaign and Brexit debates.
What is party representation?
Party representation is the idea that members of a party who are seeking to be elected will campaign based on their party’s manifesto. This means they are their party’s representation and voters understand this.
Parties have stated policies set out in a manifesto. It follows that members of a party who are seeking to be elected will campaign on the basis of a party’s manifesto. This means that they are representing their party and the voters understand that they are. In the UK candidates for election do generally stick closely to the party manifesto. In some political systems, including the USA, party candidates may vary in their political stance from the party’s manifesto or agreed policies. In such case party representation is weaker.
All modern democracies are characterized by the existence of political parties. The vast majority of those seeking and winning elections are part of a political party. It is unusual in modern politics to find independent representatives who do not belong to a party.
What is functional representation?
Functional representation refers to the fact that some elected representatives will represent not only their constituency or region but also a particular occupational or social group.
e. g. those who support and are supported by trade unions will often support the cause of groups of workers, others may represent professions like doctors or teachers.
e. g. this can also apply to some social groups such as the elderly, those with disabilities, members of the LGBT community or low income groups.
Groups like this may also be represented such as by interest groups that may be outside the parliamentary system but functional representation can still flourish within elected legislative bodies.
What is casual representation?
casual representation represents the whole community in that the beliefs and demands involved are claimed to benefit everyone not just a particular group in society.
Typical causes are environmental protection, individual rights and freedoms, greater equality and animal rights
However, elected representation often support such causes and principles and much casual representation is done by pressure groups
List the types of representation
- social representation
- national representation
- constituency representation
- party representation
- functional representation
- causal representation
State the advantages of direct democracy
- it is rule by the majority
- it is the purest form of democracy. Direct democracy gives decisions legitimacy - a term connected to democracy describing a situation where a decision is legitimate because it has been made democratically or by representatives if they have been elected
- The people should respect the decisions to which they have directly consented
- The so-called ‘wisdom of crowds’ suggests that large numbers of people will reach measured decisions
- Decisions made by the people are entrenched (protected) and so cannot be easily overturned
- can avoid delay and deadlock within the political system
- the fact that people are making the decisions gives it legitimacy
state the advantages of representative democracy
- elected representatives may have better judgment than the mass of the people
- elected representatives may be more rational and not swayed by emotion
- representatives can protect the interests of minorities
- elected representatives may be better informed than the general public
- representatives can protect minorities against rule by the majority
- representatives have more knowledge and judgment than the mass of the people and are less likely to be swayed by emotion
- The people should respect decisions made by those with superior judgment and knowledge
- People may not understand complex issues while elected representatives may be more understanding and reflective
- elected representatives can be sensitive to changing situations
What did Edmund burke say about representation?
Edmund Burke gave a speech where he explained ‘your representation owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion’
Burke was saying that if elected he would act with his conscience rather than do what his constituents wanted. These words underpin for many the principles of parliamentary democracy
What was Burke vocal against?
Burke was a vocal opponent of slavery, but his most influential constituents were merchants whose wealth was based on the slave trade.
Burke basically was saying that if elected he would act with his conscience rather than do what his constituents wanted.
How is representative democracy regulated in the UK?
The whole administration of representative democracy in the UK is regulated by the electoral commission
What does the electoral commission do in terms of representation democracy?
The electoral commission ensures that representation is fair, that all those who can vote can register to vote and that parties do not have undue influence through spending. The spending of political parties is now tightly controlled in the UK so that the process is even handed. It can be said that representation in the UK today is fundamentally uncorrupted, fair and honest. Exceptions to this seem to be minor.
State levels of representation in the Uk
- parish or town councils (England and wales only)
- Local councils (England and wales only)
- Metropolitan authorities (England and Wales only)
- Devolved government
- National government
Explain the jurisdiction of parish and town councils (england and wales only)
The lowest level of government. Only a minority (about 20%) of people come under the jurisdiction of a town council. They deal with local issues such as parks and gardens, parking restrictions, public amenities and small planning issues
Explain the jurisdiction of local councils (england and wales only)
Local councils may be also county councils, district councils or metropolitan councils, depending on the area. They deal with local services like education, public transport, roads, social services and public health.
Explain the jurisdiction of metropolitan authorities (england and wales only)
metropolitan authorities is a big city government like london or manchester. These bodies deal with strategic city issues such as policing, public transport, arts funding, environment, large planning issues and emergency services. They normally have an elected mayor and strategic authority.
Explain the jurisdiction of devolved governments
The governments of wales, scotland and northern ireland. They have varying powers, but all deal with health, social services, education, policing and transport. All three have elected representative assemblies (a parliament in scotland)
Explain the jurisdiction of the national government
This is the jurisdiction of the Uk parliament at Westminster and Uk government
Do UK citizens receive a lot of representation?
Uk citizens are represented atleast three levels and some as many as four or five levels.
It is clear that representation has become increasingly decentralised with the advent of devolution and the delegating of increasing powers to city administrations
What is decentralisation?
Decentralisation is the process of spreading power away from the centre (i.e. central government) both towards devolved governments in the national regions and to the local government
State the forms of representation
- constituencies
- parties
- mandate and manifesto
- government representation
- pressure groups
How are constituencies a form of representation?
constituencies are a cornerstone and strength of representative democracy in the UK that every elected representative has a constituency to which they are accountable and whose interests they should pursue.
These constituencies may be quite small, such as a parish or local ward or they may be large like a region (represented by MEP’s of the European parliament until Britain exited the EU or the London assembly) but the same principle applies to all.
- Individuals in the constituency should have their grievances considered that the interests of the whole constituency should be given a hearing in a representative assembly and that the elected representative is regularly made accountable to their constituency.
state the level of constituency with their representative - small to largest
- European parliamentary region and country - MEPs
- Devolved assembly constituency - MSP’s or members of the northern and welsh assemblies
- Metropolitan authority - Elected mayors
- City region - Assembly members
- parliamentary constituency - MPs
- ward or parish - parish and local councillors (smallest)
How are parties a form of representation?
Parties play a much more central role in representation than in most democracies.
This is because:
In the UK a representatives party label tell us a great deal about their beliefs and most members of the party hold a similar view. So UK parties are tighter and more unified groups. While in the USA, representatives may lean to one side, but it is more vague on what their actual beliefs are
It is usually the case that one single party governs the UK, the recent exception being 2010-2015 when there was a conservative / liberal democrat coalition.
This means that parties essentially who go on to win elections with their manifesto gives them the mandate to pursue their manifesto policies and thus also represents their parties outlook. However, this can be vague with coalition as there is a need for mutual agreement and compromise with both sides.
These two factors place parties at the centre of representation in the UK, their role is connected to the doctrine of mandate and manifesto
What is the electoral mandate?
The electoral mandate is the principle of operating in the UK, whereby a party that has been elected to government has the authority of the electorate to carry out its manifesto commitments.
What does a UK’s representative party label tell us?
In the UK a representatives party label tell us a great deal about their beliefs and most members of the party hold a similar view. So UK parties are tighter and more unified groups.
Explain how the mandate and manifesto act as a form of representation? (explain the aspects)
successful representation in the UK depends on the doctrine of mandate and manifesto. The main principle is that each party produces a manifesto in the run up to a general election,
This statement of policy intentions is followed by the party’s candidates. If that party wins power, it is said to have a mandate to carry out all the policies contained in the manifesto. In other words, it is granted the democratic authority to carry them out. It does not matter if the party only scrapes home in the election by one seat or wins below 50% of the popular vote, it can claim such a mandate.
All those who work in the UK political system accept this principle, however flawed it may be. The strength of this doctrine is that everyone, people and politicians, knows where they stand; they know which policies have democratic mandate and which do not.
It provides a guide to the voters when they are called on to judge a government at a general election; voters can ask themselves how well and how accurately the government has carried out its mandate. In between elections MPs and peers also call on the government to account on the basis of the electoral mandate
explain the ‘doctors mandate’ aspect of the doctrine of mandate and manifesto as a form of representation
Another aspect of this doctrine is the ‘doctors mandate’. This relates to the practice of doctors having to gain permission of a patient to do whatever is necessary to treat them if something goes unexpectedly in an operation.
In other words, the patient is asked to trust the doctor to do the right thing while he or she is in no position to grant authority
In some senses, the UK government can claim the same kind of mandate. Once a government is elected it can argue that is has the authority to take whatever action is deemed necessary.
This may apply to military matters, or when an emergency crisis emerges.
Unlike the doctrine of manifesto and mandate, parliament may feel more authorised to challenge such a claim by government if it thinks it is doing the wrong thing. The doctor’s mandate in other words is not a blank cheque
State the strengths of the mandate doctrine
- it grants a clear authority to an incoming government and so strengthens its legitimacy
- It allows parliament and the voters to judge the performance of government effectively
- It demonstrates clearly when a government may be overstepping its elective authority.
state the weaknesses of the mandate doctrine
- Parties in the Uk today are always elected with less than 50% of the popular vote, so their mandate can be called into question
- Those who voted for the governing party do not necessarily support all its manifesto commitments
- It is not clear whether the government has a mandate to carry out policies not contained in its last election manifesto
Explain how government representation acts as a form of representation
The people as a whole are also represented by the elected government.
- it is a mark of a true democracy that the winning party or parties should govern on behalf of the whole community and not just sections of society that typically support it
- While it is true that there is a tendency to support some groups more than others this does not alter the fact that the elected government represent the whole nation
Explain how pressure groups act as a form of representation
pressure groups in the UK (and other democracies) are representative bodies in three ways.
- (1) They may behave like political parties in that they may have formal memberships and clear supporting groups and represent their memberships by pushing policies that will benefit them. This applies to sectional pressure groups like the BMA, NFU, AA and taxpayers alliance. This is also described as functional representation
- (2) some pressure groups do not have formal memberships. They represent a section of society but do not have a means of determining what demands there are. They represent various groups but not in a very direct way.
Examples would be Age UK, Stonewall and the British drivers association,
This is also functional representation.
Many of these groups are also local, through some have national concerns and take local action.
- (3) Pressure groups are engaged in casual representation. Here they represent a set of beliefs, principles or demands which they believe will benefit the whole community. They are promotional groups rather than sectional groups. Examples are friends of the earth (FoE), action on smoking and health (ASH), liberty (human rights campaigners) and Unlock democracy
All such pressure groups represent us in un different ways. Whatever we believe, whatever we do and whatever our occupation there is probably a pressure group working in our interests. It is all part of a pluralist democracy and a healthy civil society
What is a civil society?
A civil society is a collective name for all the various associations, including parties, pressure groups, religions, voluntary organisations, charities etc. to which citizens belong and in which they become active.
Civil society acts a vital counterbalance to the power of government
How unrepresentative is Westminster parliament?
A popular criticism of the Westminster parliament is that it is socially exclusive and therefore unrepresentative of a modern, multicultural Britain but caution should be made with this argument as in the 2017 general election provided the most diverse house of commons ever 8% of MP’s are from ethnic minorities, 32% are women, 7% are LGBT. The number of privately educated MPs has fallen to 29% which is the lowest ever. but still much higher than the 7% of the population who are privately educated and the number of MPs now who are middle class are higher than it was in 1945.
Critics though say it is misleading to suggest that MP’s need to share the same characteristics as a group to represent their interests. E.g. gay marriage legislation was passed in a predominately heterosexual parliament
State the following criteria for a democratic system
- the peaceful transition of power
- free elections
- fair elections
- widespread participation in politics
- freedom of expression and information
- freedom of association
- protection of rights and liberties
- rule of law
- independent judiciary
- limited government and constitutionalism
Explain why the peaceful transition of power is important for a democratic system
The peaceful transition of power is a feature often taken for granted in democracies but it is not granted in many societies.
A peaceful transition of power means that those who lose power by democratic means accept the authority of those who have won. If they do not accept who won, politics breaks down and non-peaceful conflict is likely to take over
Explain why free elections is important for a democratic system
free elections are important as elections are the cornerstone of democracy. Without them, it is impossible to imagine democracy working in any meaningful way. Indeed it is probably the first thing we look for when assessing whether a system is democratic or not.
- The description of free means that all adults (however that is defined) are free to vote and stand for office
This is described as universal suffrage. if significant groups are excluded, (for example women could not vote in any country apart from new Zealand before the twentieth century) the elections are not truly free and the democracy is flawed
It also implies that there is a secret ballot. If there is not, votes can be bought and sold and voters can be coerced into voting a certain way
Explain the importance of fair elections in a democratic system
Fair elections are a more difficult criterion as it is a narrow and broad definition.
- The narrow definition is that ‘fair’ means that everyone has a vote and all votes are of equal value. It also suggest that there are safeguards in place to avoid electoral fraud and ballot rigging.
The broader definition concerns the electoral system used. Is it fair? This is more difficult to have a clear answer on. Does a fair election mean that the outcome of the election should be proportional i.e seats awarded to parties in proportion to votes cast? Most would say yes, in which case the Uk fails as its electoral system (plurality in single member constituencies, commonly known as FPTP) does not produce a proportional result. Instead it favours some parties over others
Why is not correct to loosely describe general UK elections as ‘free and fair’
Although elections may be certainly free, many would argue that they are not fair elections.
Explain why widespread participation in politics is important for a democratic system?
It is important for the health of a democracy that a large proportion of the population can participate in politics.
A well informed and active population can prevent a government from becoming too dictatorial.
Explain why freedom of expression and information is important for a democratic system?
Orwell illustrated in his novel 1984 how access to independent information is vital if democracy is to survive. The alternative is dictatorship
This requirement implies a free media and no government censorship or interference.
The development of the internet has helped to allow free access to all
What is Orwell’s novel 1984 about?
Orwell describes a dystopia in which an all powerful state controls the flow of all information to the population. It even changes accounts of history to suit its purposes
Explain why freedom of association is important for a democratic system?
Freedom of association is linked to the freedom of expression in the freedom to form parties or pressure groups, provided their aims and methods are legal.
Parties and pressure groups are such vital vehicles for representation that, if they did not exist or were suppressed, democracy would be almost impossible to sustain
Explain why protection of rights and liberties is important for a democratic system?
protection of rights and liberties is linked to freedom of expression and association which is the idea that the rights and liberties of citizens should be safeguarded. This implies that there should be some kind of enforceable ‘Bill of rights’ or ‘Basic laws’ to protect rights and liberties in such a way that the state cannot erode them.
The European convention on human rights (ECHR) is just such an example, enforced in 47 European countries as is the US bill of rights. the first ten amendments of America’s constitution
What is limited government?
Limited government is a feature of democracies with a constitutional safeguard is that the power of the government should have strict limits and these limits will be enforced by the judiciary and the legal system in general. The only exceptions would involve emergency power
What is a democratic deficit?
A democratic deficit is a collective term for the features of the political system which do not conform to, or fall short of, the normal criteria for a true democracy
Explain the importance of the rule of law in a democratic system
The rule of law is the basic principle that all citizens should be treated equally under the law and that the government itself should be subject to the same laws as its citizens. It is directly linked to the idea of limited government
Explain the importance of the independent judiciary in a democratic system
the existence of the rule of law implies one other feature - an independent judiciary
It is a key role of the judiciary in a democracy to ensure that the rule of law is upheld. In order for this to happen, the members of the judiciary (the judges) must be independent from government and the whole process of politics
In this way, they will ensure that all individuals and groups in society are treated equally under the law and that the government does not exceed its authority
It also means that the rights and liberties of citizens are more likely to be upheld
Explain the importance of limited government and constitutionalism in a democratic system
Democracy is at risk if there are not firm limits to the power of government
Without these there is a possibility that government will set aside democratic principles for its own purposes.
We expect this to happen sometimes in times of war and emergency but not normally. The usual way to set the limits of government power is to define them in constitution which will be enforced by the forces of law.
This is known as constitutionalism
What is constitutionalism?
The usual way to set the limits of government power is to define them in constitution which will be enforced by the forces of law.
This is known as constitutionalism
Summarise the UK’s democratic deficit
- The FPTP electoral system for general elections produces disproportional results, renders many votes wasted and elects governments with a relatively small proportion of the popular vote. It discriminates against small parties with dispersed support.
The house of lords has considerable influence but is an unelected body
The sovereignty of parliament, in theory, gives unlimited potential power to government
The powers of the prime minister are largely based on the authority of the unelected monarch
The European convention on human rights is not binding on parliament, so individual rights and liberties remain under threat
What is elitism?
A description of a society or political system where power and influence are concentrated in the hands of a few people and organisations
What is democracy? outline the criteria for general democracy
- The people have influence, either direct or indirect, over political decisions.
- Government and all elected bodies or individuals are made accountable to the people.
- Government should operate within the rule of law, whereby all are equal under the law and government itself is subject to the same laws as the people.
- Elections should be held regularly, be free and fair, and there should be universal adult suffrage.
- People should be free to form political parties and other associations and to stand for elective office.
- The transition of power from one government to the next must be peaceful.
- The people should have access to independent information and opinion.
- The rights and freedoms of the people should be respected by government.
what are characteristics of direct democracy?
The characteristics of direct democracies are:
• The people make key decisions themselves.
- Only in classical Greece has a whole system been described as direct democracy.
- In its modern form, direct democracy uses initiatives and referendums.
- The UK is a representative democracy that uses direct democracy to resolve constitutional issues.
What is the difference between direct democracy and referendums?
A direct democracy is a system where the people make all the key decisions themselves. Such systems operated in classical Greece but are now rare and largely confined to small scale communities. Referendums are really only examples of a direct democratic method, sometimes used within representative democracies.
define representative democracy
A political system based on the principle that the citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf and are accountable to them. It can also refer to representation by political parties and by pressure groups.
what are characteristics of pressure groups
- The people elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf.
- Regular elections are a key feature
- The system is characterised by representative assemblies such as parliaments, assemblies and councils.
- A government is elected to make proposals and arrange for their implementation.
- Government and elected representatives are accountable to the people.
- Parties campaign to be able to represent the people in government.
- Pressure groups operate, representing sections of society and various causes from outside the political system.
What does the term pluralism imply about the aspects of society and a political system?
- Power and influence are widely dispersed among the people and among sections of society- power is not excessively concentrated in a few hands.
- There is tolerance, both legal and cultural, of a wide range of minorities, political beliefs, religions, lifestyles and cultures.
- Political parties are free to operate and campaign and there are many parties which citizens may choose to support.
- Pressure groups and campaign groups are tolerated and allowed to operate freely.
- There is a range of sources of independent information, news and opinion available to the people without interference by the state
What does pluralist democracy mean?
– a description of a political system and/or society where there is widespread tolerance of different groups and lifestyles, where freedom of expression and association are respected, where many parties and pressure groups may operate and where there are independent media. The term also implies that power is dispersed and not concentrated.
state the positives and negatives of the peaceful transition of power
positives - the UK is remarkably conflict free
negatives - none
state the positives and negatives of free elections
positives - virtually everyone over the age of 18 can vote. There is little electoral fraud and there are strong legal safeguards
negatives - the house of lords is not elected at all, nor is the head of state (monarch)
